Healthy Homes Assessment Waiohiki

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Waiohiki rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

• Draught Stopping
• Heating
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now 0800 894 138

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Waiohiki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Waiohiki rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Waiohiki, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Waiohiki rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Waiohiki rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Waiohiki Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Waiohiki

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside homes. A cold house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from your house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Waiohiki

Waiohiki rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source such as an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Waiohiki

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Waiohiki

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making much easier to the household to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Waiohiki Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually not apparent that it could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Waiohiki

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Waiohiki include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Waiohiki for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.